System and method for performing telemetric measurements

ABSTRACT

System for performing telemetric measurements, comprising a plurality of mobile communication devices ( 100 ), each communication device ( 100 ) being provided with at least one sensor ( 110 ) and a sensor control section ( 120 ) for performing measurements, a cellular communication network structure for the mobile communication devices, a server provided with communication means for receiving measurement data from the plurality of mobile communication devices ( 100 ), and for sending measurement instructions to respective sensor control sections ( 120 ) of the mobile communication devices ( 100 ) wherein the sensor control sections ( 120 ) are programmable by the server.

The invention relates to a system for performing telemetricmeasurements.

Telemetric measurements are used for in situ measurements of variousparameters. By relaying the measurement data through telemetry, theinfrastructure necessary for performing the measurements issignificantly simplified. However, even in this situation the need for ameasuring probe with communication equipment continues to exist. If manymeasurements are required, the cost of the measuring equipment issubstantial, especially if measurements in various locations and/or atsubstantially the same instant are required.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved system fortelemetric measurements, and in particular a system that can be operatedwith less resources while maintaining the required measurementperformance.

This object is achieved with a system according to claim 1. By usingmany communication devices, such as cell phones, as a telemetricobservation platform, the number of potential measurement devices isvery large. By using the infrastructure of the mobile communicationsnetwork already in place, the costs for transmitting measurement datacan be significantly reduced.

The invention further relates to a method for paying for measurementsperformed in a mobile communication network setting. By awarding creditsfor measurements made by the phone of a user, for instance by a lump sumreduction of the billed costs or a reduced rate, users will have anincentive to apply to the scheme, and to make more efforts to enabletheir phone to make the measurements when required. This will increasethe effectiveness of the measurement system according to the invention.

Particularly advantageous elaborations of the invention are set forth inthe dependent claims. Further objects, elaborations, modifications,effects and details of the invention appear from the followingdescription, in which reference is made to the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows schematically a cellular communication network according tothe invention, and

FIG. 2 shows schematically a cellular telephone according to theinvention.

In FIG. 1 a cellular communication network 1 is shown, with a pluralityof adjacent hexagonal cells 10 that each represent the reach of atransmitting tower of a base station in the center of the cell. Thenetwork is further provided with a Mobile Telephone Switching Office(MTSO) that coordinates all communications within the cells and betweenother MTSOs of other sections of the communication network. The MTSOkeeps track of the location of a mobile phone that is present within thereach of the network in a database stored within the MTSO. Typically,the MTSO is implemented in software on a computer system. Foridentification of the mobile telephone, the MTSO stores the ElectronicSerial Number (ESN) of the telephone, the Mobile Identification Number(MIN) associated with the telephone number belonging to the telephone,and the System Identification Code (SID) associated with thecommunications service provider. For each mobile telephone, its positionis at least known with an accuracy of the size of the cells used; if thetelephones are equipped with a geographic positioning system (example isGlobal Positioning System (GPS)), the location of a telephone is knowneven more accurately. Information with respect to subscriber data suchas identification data, and billing data is stored in database form inthe MTSO.

According to the invention, a cell phone 100 is provided with a sensor110 and a sensor control unit 120, see FIG. 2. The sensor 110 is adaptedto perform a measurement, in that it is capable to convert a measuredvariable into a measurement signal. Non limiting examples of such asensor are a temperature sensor, an air pressure sensor, an airpollution sensor, a humidity sensor, and a speed sensor. The sensorcontrol unit 120 is adapted to initiate a measurement by reading andstoring a measurement signal from the sensor 110. For storingmeasurement data the sensor control unit is provided with a memory.Furthermore, the sensor control unit is adapted to send measurement datausing the communication device to a server. In particular, the controlunit is equipped to include the measurement data in data communicationstream such as for example telephone conversation data. Methods ofincluding a one or more signals in a main signals are known in the art,both for analogue or digital signals. Corresponding methods of decodingencoded signals are equally well known. Measurement data can include forexample one or more measurement signals, time stamps, location data, anduser identification data.

According to the invention is provided a server SRV (see FIG. 1), forexample being implemented in a computer system, that is adapted toreceive measurement information from the cell phones. To this end, theserver SRV can be communicatively connected to the MTSO, or be connectedto the network through other means. To receive a measurement,measurement data that has been included in a communication stream has tobe detected and decoded. The detection and decoding has to be performedaccording to the encoding method used, and can therefore includeoperations such as filtering and demultiplexing. Decoded measurementsare subsequently processed for further use, by for example storing thedata in a database or outputting it as a data stream.

The system according to the invention can be used in various ways. Anumber of non limiting examples are referred to hereinafter.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the mobile communication devicesare programmed to make a measurement, for example air pressure, onpredetermined point in time, for instance 12:00 AM, and store theinformation within the sensor control unit. When a mobile communicationdevice uses the network to establish a connection, the sensor controlunit sends out the measurement data (preferably including the positionof the communication device at the time of the measurement) so that theserver can collect the data. As a result, measurement data of manycommunication devices can be gathered, giving many data point for, inthis example the air pressure, on a specific point in time at aspecified location.

In another embodiment the sensor control units are programmed to take ameasurement when the device they are associated with reach apredetermined location. The location can be specified in terms of aabsolute position (such as GPS coordinates) or a network relatedposition, such as a cell. When the communication device reaches thelocation, the sensor control unit makes a measurement, and stores it. Insubsequent communication, the data is transferred to the server. In thisway data for a specific location can be gathered. In a variation on thelocation triggered measurement, the communication device can be providedwith sensors that detect trigger signals by external source, for examplea radio beacon.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the server is provided withmeans to instruct specific sensor control units to perform ameasurement, and to send the results to the server. Preferably onlyinstructions are send to communication devices that are activelycommunicating, so that the instructions and the measurements can be sendin real time. In this embodiment of the invention, real timemeasurements can be performed over a larger number of measurementlocations. Additionally, sensor control units can be selected accordingto their location, so that real time measurements can be obtained from aspecific location or area.

The sensor control unit can be arranged to perform a measurement basedon several triggers. For example, the proximity to a specific locationtriggers a measurement. The detection of the location can be made by thephone itself, based on a pre-programmed location and GPS measurementsmade by the phone. Also the phone can receive a trigger signal from anexternal source present at the location, such as a transmitter.

In a further aspect of the invention, the subscriber to thetelecommunication network can receive credits for supplyingmeasurements. In case a measurement is successfully transferred to theserver, a credit can be awarded to the user of the phone. This creditcan be for example in the form of a reduction in the costs of theconnection made. The credits awarded can be stored in a user data base,for example one present in the server. Although in the above-mentionedexamples a cell phone is used, is the invention not limited to a cellphone. The invention can be used with any mobile communication device,such as a personal digital assistant, that is provided withcommunication equipment to communicate over a cellular communicationnetwork.

The actual sensor used need not be an integral part of the communicationdevice as such. The sensor can also be releasably connectable to thecommunication device. In particular a sensor provided in a vehicle, suchas a car, can be connected to a communication device according to theinvention. The vehicle sensors include temperature and speed sensors. Inone specific embodiment vehicle speed can be measured, the measurementbeing triggered by the proximity to a specific measurement point, like apoint where traffic jams are common. Data acquired in this way can beused for traffic control purposes.

1. System for performing telemetric measurements, comprising a pluralityof mobile communication devices (100), each communication device (100)being provided with at least one sensor (110) and a sensor controlsection (120) for performing measurements, a cellular communicationnetwork structure (1) for said mobile communication devices, a server(SRV) provided with communication means for receiving measurement datafrom said plurality of mobile communication devices (100), and forsending measurement instructions to respective sensor control sections(120) of said mobile communication devices (100).
 2. System according toclaim 1, wherein the sensor control sections (120) are programmable bythe server (SRV).
 3. System according to claim 1, wherein the sensorcontrol sections (120) are arranged to perform a measurement on apredetermined point in time.
 4. System according to claim 1, wherein thesensor control sections (120) are arranged to perform a measurement inresponse to instructions received from the server (SRV).
 5. Systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the sensor control sections (120) arearranged to transmit measurement results when the respective mobilecommunication device (100) has established a connection over the network(1).
 6. Mobile communication device for use in a system according toclaim 1, comprising a communication section for communication over acellular communications network, and at least one sensor and a sensorcontrol section for performing measurements.
 7. Method for performingtelemetric measurements, comprising instructing a sensor control section(120) of a mobile communication device (100) to perform a measurement,and retrieving a measurement result from a mobile communication device(100) through a cellular communication network (1).
 8. Method accordingto claim 7, wherein the instruction for performing a measurement is atleast based on the position of the respective mobile communicationdevice (100) within the cellular communication network (1).
 9. Methodaccording to claim 7, wherein the retrieval of the measurement data isperformed when the respective mobile communication device (100) isengaged in communication over the cellular communication network (1).10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the measurement data is encodedin the communication signal.
 11. Method for billing communication costswithin a cellular communication network comprising awarding credittowards the billing information of a subscriber to a networkcommunication service on receipt through the communication network ofmeasurement data performed by a mobile communication device (100)associated with the subscriber.